Door-latch



(No Model.)

E. S. WINGHBSTER.

DUUR LATCH.

Pat'ente Julyv 6 DOOR :40:55

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICEG EDVARD STEVENS WINGHESTER, OF DORCHESTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

DOOR-LATCH.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 34:5,016I datedJu1y6I 1886.

Applicationfiled April 7, 1896. Serial No. 198,106. lNo model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD STEVENS WIN- oHEs'rER, of Dorchester, in thecounty of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainImprovements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

The aim of my invention is to provide an ilnprovcd construction underwhich a springactuatedlatch-boltwillbe automaticallylocked in itsretracted position when operated by the knob, as usual,and automaticallyreleased when vthe door is closed, and this through the inertia of aninternal weight and without the ernployment of projecting trip devices.

The invention further consists in combining with the latch-bolt a detentto hold the same automatically in a retracted position and connectionsbetween the detcnt and the knob or spindle, so that the latch may beunlocked through the medium ofthe spindle, at the will of the operator.

The invention further consists in various details of construction, whichwill be hereinafter more fully explained.

My improvements are susceptible of embodi ment in various forms, theequivalents of each other, which will readily suggest themselves to theskilled mechanic after a reading of the specification.

I have represented in the drawings those forms of embodiment which arebest adapted for general use.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of a latch containing myimprovements, the side plate of the casing being removed to expose theinternal parts to view. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the sameon the line a: w, Fig'. 8 is a perspective view in the nature of adiagram, showing my improved detent devices as represented in theprevious iigures.' Fig. 4t is a diagram illustrating a modified form ofthe detent.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A. represents the casing of thelatch; ]3, the horizontally-sliding latch-bolt, beveled at itsforward-end and provided with a rearwardlyextendingv spindle, a,encircled by a spiral spring, b', which serves to project the latchbeyond the casing when itis released, in a manner familiar to thelock-smith.

C represents a horizontally-sliding yoke-bar urged constantly forward bya spring, o, its rear end being forked, and its arms adapted to engagein an y,ordinary manner the rocking stump ortumbler D, to which theexternal knobs will be connected by an ordinary spindle, or otherwise.The rotation of this stump in either direction serves to retract theyokebar C. At its lower end said yoke-bar C has a projecting lip, d,entering a notch in the upper edge of the latch-bolt. This notch is ofsuch width that it will permit the latchbolt to be retracted, as shownin Fig. l, until its forward end is wholly Within the casing withoutmoving the upper yoke-bar, O. When, however, the latch-bolt is forward,the retraction of the yoke-bar C will cause its shoulder d to retractthe latch-bolt. Thus it is that by turning the knob or spindle thelatch-bolt is positively retracted.

In applyingmyimprovementImountwithin the latch-case in any appropriatemanner a weight, E, movable transversely within the casing, and connectit with the latch-bolt in such manner that when the latch is retractedit will be automatically held in its retracted position until the dooris closed, and then released through t-he inertia of the weight.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the weightEis supported by two horizontal arms, e,its upper and lower edges mounted on vertical pivots f in thelatch-casing, tween the weight and the side of the casing, urges theweight in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2'. At its upperedge the weight has an arm or detent, h, and on the A spring, 7c,applied bel stem of the latch-bolt there is formed a shoulder, i. Whenthe latch-bolt is retracted, the detent h engages the shoulder i andholds the bolt in its retracted position, as shown in Figs. l and 3.When the door is closed against the jamb or other stop, the inertia ofthe weight causes it to continue its motion, overcoming the spring k,and to swing forward until its arm h discngages the shoulder z', theeffect of which is to release the latch-bolt and permit it to slideforward,under the influence of spring b, into engagement with thekeeper. In this form of the device it will be observed that the weightis forked or divided, thus affording a IOO parts, which may be of anyordinary construction. This construction of the weight is advantageousin that its operative end is permitted to swing around a distantpivot,whcre by its action is rendered smoother and less violent thanwould otherwise be the case.

In Fig. 4L I have represented one of the varions modified forms of theweight. In this instance the weight is supported on a horizontal pivotand its upper end arranged to engage directly with the stem of thelatch-bolt.

As it is sometimes desirable to release the latch-bolt by hand, eitherbefore or after closing the door, I construct the stump r tumbler D sothat it may move transversely of the casing--that is to say, in thedirection of its own axis-to a limited extent, and provide the weight Ewith an upwardlyextending arm or detent, m, which bears against thesides of an annular collar formed on the stump, as shown in Figs. 1, 2,and 3. By pushing vthe stump of the lock, and a detent acting inconnection with said weight to hold the latch-bolt automatically in itsretracted position.

2. In a latch, the combination of a horizon tally-movable latch-bolthaving its stem provided with a shoulder, the horizontally-swingingweight having a detentarm to engage said shoulder, and aspring acting tourge the weight in the direction in which the door is opened.

3. In a latch, a movable latch-controlling weight forked or divided,substantially as described, to loosely embrace the lockbolt,where by theemployment of a long weight is permitted without interference with thelock. l 4. In a door-latch, the combination of a spring-projectedlatch-bolt, a rocking tumbler or barrel toeffect its retraction, saidtumbler adapted to move in an axial direction, and an automatic detentengaging the latch-bolt to hold the same in its retracted position, andadapted to be disengaged by the axial motion of the tumbler.

5. In a door-latch, the spring-projected latch B, the spring-projectedyoke C, having a loose connection with the latch, the tumbler D, havingboth a rotary and an axial motion, and the movable detent to engage thelatch-bolt, provided with an arm engaging the tumbler.

In testimony whereofI hereunto set my hand, this 22d day of March, 1886,in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

' EDWARD STEVENS WINCIIESTER.

Witnesses:

JAMES SMITH, MARY S. WINCHESTER.

